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Polka Dot Queen�Kusama’s Obsession & Obliteration�by Lee-Jean Lin�

FEBRUARY 20240

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Motivation/Objectives

  • Learn about the life and career of Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, and her many forms of art, especially her “polka dots” motif

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  • Create a sculpture with model magic and paint the surface using Kusama’s style as an inspiration.

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  • Learn and apply the principles of repetition, contrast and perspective to the projects.

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Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生 (1929 ~ )

    • A Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and environmental installation
  • Regularly appearing in public wearing her signature bobbed anime wigs and colorful, avant-garde fashions.

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  • Early life (1929-1949)
  • Moved to US (1957-1972)
  • Return to Japan (1973-1977)
  • Revival (1980 ~ Present)

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https://youtu.be/IG_8vNTAXbY?si=95qZf9DzDoNREhZ0

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By Tate Kids

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https://youtu.be/GUoDUhsWJL8?si=b6jPpp6z3fyQtJD9

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Infinity Mirror Room - Phalli’s Field (1965)

Mother and Child, 1927

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZR3nsiIeA

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Love Transformed into Dots (2007)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwLov2PAdec

Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity �(at Broad, 2009)

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Obliteration Room (2002 – Present)

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My Eternal Soul (2017, Tokyo)

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Window Display – Louis Vuitton

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Ideas:

  • Themes of Sculpture: Pumpkins, Balls, “Bowling-Pins,” Tentacles, Garden Flowers and other organic shapes, with emphasis on patterns and repetitions.
  • High contrast created with black or white dots on intensely bold color background or dots of solid colors in various sizes scattered randomly on white surface

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Procedure:

  • Sculpt model magic to create a simple 3-dimensional form on the foam plate
  • Use popsicle sticks and toothpicks to define detail. Avoid shapes with high risk of breakage

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  • Glue the sculpture on the foam board
  • Paint the sculpture and the board
  • Use Q-tips & toothpicks to paint round dots on sculpture and on the board

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Use high contrasting colors and size of the dot to emphasis the contour of the object.

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Lee-Jean Lin

www.ArtExperienceStudio.com

ArtExperience88@Gmail.com

FB/Instagram: “Art Experience Torrance”